At-Risk Animals

Thank you for your interest in adopting from Animal Care Centers of NYC. Our At-Risk List is posted three times a week, on the evenings of Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:00PM and remains viewable for 42 hours.

Schedule overview:
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Sunday evening will be viewable until Tuesday at 12:00PM noon.
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Tuesday evening will be viewable until Thursday at 12:00PM noon.
Animals posted at 6:00PM on Thursday evening will be viewable until Saturday at 12:00PM noon.

To find out the status of at-risk animals, please visit the At-Risk Outcomes page.

If this is your first time visiting this site, please read the below information carefully.

For anyone who wishes to adopt, there is a mandatory deposit fee of $200 plus a transaction fee per animal to place an adoption reservation. The $200 covers $50 toward the adoption fee and $150 for the spay/neuter deposit. If the animal has already been spayed or neutered or is permanently waived by one of our veterinarians, the $150 deposit will be refunded at the time of the adoption. If the animal does need to leave without being spayed or neutered due to his/her medical condition, the $150 deposit will be refunded at the time they are brought back for the spay/neuter surgery or when proof of sterilization being done elsewhere is provided to ACC. If you do not follow through with the adoption, the entire $200 deposit will be considered a charitable donation to ACC's Special Treatment and Recovery Fund (STAR). Also, if the adoption fee for an animal is less than $50, the difference will be considered a charitable donation to the STAR Fund. Similarly, in-shelter pricing promotions do not apply to at-risk animals.

To complete an adoption, please click reserve on the animal of your choice. That animal will be loaded in your cart and you will have 15 minutes to complete the adoption process. In order to complete your reservation, you need to check out (top right corner). At this point, you will enter in your credit card information and a receipt will be emailed to you as confirmation of your reservation. If you have any issues, please email adopt@nycacc.org for help navigating the website.

If you are interested in fostering/adopting through one of our New Hope partners, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/ozHex3uqvNkQt2dq9

At-Risk Animals

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Orlando
Orlando is on the at-risk list for behavior concerns. Orlando continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. He is extremely intelligent and high energy, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. In addition to playtime, this cat would also benefit from mental exercise from activities such as puzzle toys/games, lick mats, or clicker training. Without providing activity for his/her mind and body, the cat may react with rough play, potentially resulting in bite/scratch incidents. It is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid bite/scratch incidents.
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Juno
Juno is on the at risk list for medical reasons. He is a friendly senior cat who was diagnosed with diabetes at the shelter. Juno will require long-term medical management for this disease. Juno has allowed for all medical handling and solicits attention during his exams.
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Nym
Nym is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Beau
Beau is on the at-risk list due to behavior. Although he is displaying social behaviors in the shelter, Beau does have a multiple bite and scratch history in his previous home. It would be in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience managing cats who rough play and may be prone to overstimulation.
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Sabby
Sabby is on the at-risk list for medical concerns. Sabby is a cat with a history of attacking her tail. She has now had two tail amputations and continues to self mutilate. Her most recent surgery is not healing properly because she was able to open it back up. She is on multiple pain medications, but will likely need a long-term anxiolytic medication and additional follow up veterinary care to manage the current tail amputation site. Behaviorally, Sabby is sweet and has allowed medical handling.
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Remi
Remi is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. She is extremely intelligent and high energy, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. In addition to playtime, this cat would also benefit from mental exercise from activities such as puzzle toys/games, lick mats, or clicker training. Without providing activity for her mind and body, the cat may react with rough play, potentially resulting in bite/scratch incidents. It is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid further bite/scratch incidents.
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Hazel
Hazel is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. She is extremely intelligent and high energy, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. In addition to playtime, this cat would also benefit from mental exercise from activities such as puzzle toys/games, lick mats, or clicker training. Without providing activity for her mind and body, the cat may react with rough play, potentially resulting in bite/scratch incidents. It is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid bite/scratch incidents.
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Benicio
Benicio is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Lowkey Mischief

Lowkey Mischief is at risk due to behavioral concerns. In the Care Centers, Lowkey Mischief was noted to be inconsistent with kennel reactivity. He was reported to jump high up in kennel vocalizing, attempting to kennel fight as he exits. He was also noted to be inconsistent with mouthing on handlers. He has reportedly mouthed handlers sleeves and hands with various levels of pressures. At times he was able to be easily redirected with treats or cue. Lowkey is reported to be social with familiar staff, allowing for petting and gently taking treats. Medically, Lowkey Mischief is underweight.
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Leonidas
Leonidas is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Cookie King
Cookie King is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Cookie has been observed to be dog reactive while in care, noted to become tense when seeing another dog. This behavior has improved with time and he has become easier to redirect at times. Cookie has been observed to lunge towards a dog in a pop up crate and snapping towards them. With handlers Cookie is observed to have a loose and wiggly body. Medically, Cookie is apparently healthy.
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Flocca
Flocca is at risk due to behavior concerns in care. Flocca is noted on walks to be difficult to settle and may fixate on toys, kennels, and other dogs, particularly during returns to the building, where he is noted on occasions to have shown hard pulling, snarling, and baring teeth toward neighboring kennels. He has also been observed pulling toward dogs with a tense body. Flocca is also noted to have shown signs of kennel stress and was reported to remove and flip his kennel drain. Flocca is noted to be social and affectionate with handlers. Medically Flocca has CIRDC and Hematochezia.
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Cajun Fries
Cajun Fries is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Brewster

Brewster is at-risk due to ongoing distance-increasing behaviors. When he first arrived at the Care Center, he was hissing and growling. During interactions, Brewster is now quick to escalate to lunging and swatting. When lunging, Brewster will smack his face into the den or into the kennel bars. Given his fearful behavior and inability to have successful interactions, it is in his best interest to be moved out of the kennel environment as quickly as possible. Brewtser would benefit from an experienced adopter with a stable, low-traffic environment. Medically, he has mild-moderate dental disease, alopecia, is underweight, and has been having diarrhea.
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Leon
Leon is at risk due to his behavioral concerns. Leon was reported to consistently nip the adults in the home. Multiple incidents occured none breaking skin but leaving scratches. In the care center, Leon is noted to snap for leashing and when picked up. Leon is generally social with familiar handlers, with a loose body, soliciting pets. Medically, Leon is apparently healthy.
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Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer is at risk due to behavior concerns. He arrived at the care centers as a stray with no known history. He has tolerated handling, occasionally taking treats, but has not acclimated well. Ford Explorer has remained highly fearful, shut down, and avoidant throughout his stay. He has escalated to growling and has been very reluctant to leave his kennel. Once out of the kennel he will display high FAS levels, remaining tense, crouched with a low head, lip licking, avoiding eye contact, and yawning. Handlers have been able to pet and collar him with a slow approach. Medically, he was treated for fleas but is otherwise healthy.
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Tuna
Tuna is at risk due to behavior concerns. Her previous owner reported that she is fearful of strangers and may hide, bark, and growl when approached. She has also snapped when having her nails clipped, guarded her food, and lunged and howled at other animals while on leash. In the Care Centers, Tuna has been fearful and initially refused to walk, at times flinching when staff attempted to clip her collar. Over time, she has become more social and will engage with toys; however, she continues to refuse to return to her kennel. Medically, Tuna is apparently healthy.
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Sky
Sky is at-risk due to ongoing behavioral concerns. She has not been thriving in the Care Center and continues to display distance-increasing behaviors when approached for interaction. Upon arrival, Sky was avoidant of touch and would hiss when approached. During her stay, her responses have escalated to growling, lunging, swatting, and biting the touch tool. These behaviors have contributed to increased stress among neighboring cats in the room. Sky would benefit from placement in a home with adopters who can provide adequate time and space for her to acclimate and who have experience supporting fearful cats as they adjust to unfamiliar people and environments. Medically, Sky has gingivitis.
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Harlem
Harlem is at risk due to his behavioral concerns. Harlem has shown a pattern of overarousal and persistent mounting behavior directed toward handlers. He has been repeatedly reported mounting in the driveway and grabbing a handler's leg, while returning to the care center, and when handlers are seated or standing. He is noted to also become overaroused by barking dogs and visual contact with his neighboring dog and has begun mounting the handler. Harlem is otherwise social and affectionate with handlers. Medically, Harlem is healthy at this time.
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Velveteen

Velveteen is at risk due to behavior concerns in care. Velveteen is reported to be reactive to dogs, lunging toward them and being unable to be redirected. She is also noted to pull hard on the leash, particularly when returning to the shelter. During walks, she may become tense and hypervigilant, requiring treats and coaxing to continue. She is noted to enjoy playing with balls with familiar handlers. Medically, Velveteen is apparently healthy.
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Paris
Paris is at risk due to behavioral reasons. While in care, Paris has been observed to be fearful and is noted to be avoidant of handlers. She will begin to seek exit when they attempt to interact with her. Recently Paris has begun to snap at handlers when they interact with her. Such as when a handler attempted to remove their slip leash, Paris snapped at their hand. Her previous owner describes her as active and playful. Medically, Paris is currently healthy.
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Sticky Keys
Sticky Keys is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Sticky Keys has been noted to display arousal concerns, jumping up on handlers, pull very hard, and becoming mouthy. Sticky Keys due to his exorbitant behavior he has knocked handlers over while they were kneeling, tangling his leash on handlers legs, and one instance nipping handlers finger while jumping up which didn't break skin. In kennel, Sticky Keys has been obseved to spin, vocalize, bite his tail, and the top of the kennel. Sticky Keys is noted to be a sweet dog who loves to sniff around once in a calmer state. Medically, Sticky Keys is apparently healthy.
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Lazuli
Lazuli is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. While she has warmed up to allowing brief pets in shelter while eating treats, she remains wary of petting and handling. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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Koko
Koko is on the at-risk list for medical reasons. Koko has a significant hard palate defect/injury and severe facial swelling. She will need additional veterinary wound care and possibly surgery. At this time, Koko has a good appetite and is stable. Behaviorally, she has allowed all handling.
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Laffy Taffy
Laffy Taffy is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Laffy Taffy has not acclimated well to the shelter environment. When attempting to conduct a handling assessment, he approaches handlers with a tense body and does not allow collaring. In the kennel, Laffy Taffy is experiencing a high level of kennel stress. He is throwing his water bowl around the kennel while screeching. On one occasion, when a handler checks on him, Laffy Taffy is seen standing on the water bucket, body tense, and escalated to lunging at the handler while hard barking. He then returns to throwing the bucket around while vocalizing. Medically, Laffy Taffy is apparently healthy.
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